When the Diamondbacks shocked the baseball world by touchdown right-hander Corbin Burnes in free company, the transfer gave them practically unparalleled depth within the rotation: the righty is joined by Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery, Brandon Pfaadt, and Ryne Nelson among the many membership’s beginning choices headed into 2025. That type of depth will trigger loads of hypothesis relating to the potential for a commerce, and Arizona’s rotation has been no exception to that. Whereas the membership reportedly wasn’t shut to dealing any of its pitchers final week, they’ve has garnered curiosity on their rotation all through the winter.
Of that group, Montgomery has lengthy appeared to be the probably participant to maneuver. The lefty was a late-spring signing by the Diamondbacks final 12 months, and the deal hasn’t gone nicely for anybody. Montgomery struggled badly in his first season within the desert, pitching to a 6.23 ERA in 117 innings of labor. His 4.48 FIP was considerably higher than that top-level run prevention determine, although even that was under common. Diamondbacks possession went so far as to publicly criticize Montgomery shortly after the 2024 season got here to a detailed, so it’s no shock that the Snakes have lengthy appeared motivated to maneuver the southpaw forward of his age-32 season. The addition of Burnes may at the very least theoretically open the door to Arizona feeling snug sufficient with its rotation depth to extra significantly contemplate dealing certainly one of its different arms, but it surely stands to motive that the membership would nonetheless want to maneuver Montgomery all else equal.
After such a disastrous 2024 marketing campaign, it’s exhausting to think about the Diamondbacks getting a lot of significance for the lefty’s companies past some wage aid. Montgomery is slated to earn $22.5MM in 2025, a hefty sum that it appears unlikely that the membership will be capable of totally get off of its books. With that being stated, the ever-increasing value of beginning pitching makes the deal at the very least slightly bit extra palatable than it may appear at first look. In spite of everything, the Pink Sox assured right-hander Walker Buehler $21.05MM for the 2025 season on the heels of a lackluster marketing campaign the place he posted a 5.38 ERA in 16 begins. The Tigers, in the meantime, assured 37-year-old veteran Alex Cobb $15MM on the heels of a 2024 marketing campaign the place he made simply three common season begins.
Each of these gamers have substantial earlier success to lean on, however so does Montgomery. The lefty received the World Sequence with the Rangers in 2023, and in doing so capped off a three-season stretch the place he pitched to a robust 3.48 ERA (120 ERA+) with a 3.62 FIP throughout 94 begins. As long as the Diamondbacks aren’t seeking to get something of specific significance again in return, it’s comparatively simple to think about them with the ability to offload at the very least $15MM or so of Montgomery’s wage. Which groups might be greatest positioned to take a one-year roll of the cube on the lefty’s companies? A take a look at 9 potential suitors, listed alphabetically inside tiers:
Greatest Matches
- Athletics: The A’s have been fairly aggressive in seeking to improve their membership this winter, partially as they try to keep away from a grievance with the MLBPA relating to their use of income sharing {dollars}. They’ve already added Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs to their rotation this winter, however membership brass left the door open for a 3rd beginning pitching acquisition this winter if the chance introduced itself. Enter Montgomery, the acquisition of whom may push the membership’s luxurious tax payroll as much as $105MM vary they’re reportedly concentrating on even when Arizona ate among the cash. If Montgomery manages to bounce again in 2025, he’d be part of Severino, Springs, JP Sears, and Mitch Spence in a surprisingly formidable rotation for the membership’s first season in West Sacramento.
- Braves: Atlanta has a transparent want for rotation assist after dropping each Max Fried and Charlie Morton in free company this winter, however the membership has been uncharacteristically gradual to get to work this winter. With that being stated, Alex Anthopoulos’s entrance workplace has lengthy proven a passion for one-year additions coming off down seasons like Josh Donaldson and Marcell Ozuna. Arguably, that listing additionally contains reigning NL Cy Younger award winner Chris Sale because the lefty was getting into the ultimate assured 12 months of his take care of Boston when the Braves traded for him. A commerce for Montgomery absolutely wouldn’t go fairly in addition to the one for Sale did, but it surely’s simple to think about the lefty bouncing again within the Braves rotation alongside Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach in 2025.
- White Sox: Chicago might look like an odd match for Montgomery, given the truth that they’re coming off the worst season in MLB historical past with just about no hope of constructing noise within the AL Central race throughout this coming season. The truth that they’re one of many solely clearly rebuilding golf equipment within the recreation proper now may make them a singular potential suitor for Montgomery’s companies, nevertheless. Their rotation combine is crammed to the brim with younger arms who may show to be attention-grabbing however supply little certainty, so including a veteran arm like Montgomery may make sense for all sides. It’s doable the White Sox, with a payroll that RosterResource tasks at simply $78MM in 2025, may really take up the whole thing of Montgomery’s wage in alternate for a prospect from Arizona. If Montgomery pitches nicely within the first half, Chicago may then flip the lefty on the deadline for added younger expertise to maintain their rebuild chugging alongside.
Subsequent Tier Down
- Astros: It’s doable to think about the Astros being content material with their present beginning depth after including Hayden Wesneski to the combo within the Kyle Tucker commerce and certain welcoming right-hander Luis Garcia again into the fold in time for Opening Day after he missed the 2024 season as a consequence of damage. With that being stated, the membership did lose each Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy from its rotation depth this winter and is understood to be purchasing right-hander Ryan Pressly on the commerce market this winter whereas trying to find left-handed hitting outfielders. Arizona has a surplus of left-handed hitting outfielders and is understood to be on the hunt of late-inning aid assist, so maybe there’s a match right here involving some mixture of Montgomery, Pressly, and younger Diamondbacks outfielder like Alek Thomas.
- Mariners: Seattle might look like a considerably uncommon match for Montgomery’s companies given the membership’s robust rotation, however there appears to be at the very least some risk that the membership will commerce right-hander Luis Castillo this winter. Doing so would depart the membership with little rotation depth, nevertheless. Theoretically, it’s simple sufficient to think about the Mariners dealing Castillo to a different membership in alternate for infield assist, after which utilizing the saved cash from the deal so as to pivot in the direction of buying Montgomery to restock the rotation. Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has definitely proven a willingness to get equally artistic prior to now, and Mike Hazen’s entrance workplace in Arizona has been certainly one of his most frequent commerce companions over time.
- Mets: The Mets aren’t able the place they should add one other starter, with a rotation combine that presently runs eight gamers deep. With that being stated, Montgomery’s wage would hardly be excessively cumbersome for the big-spending Mets, and David Stearns has proven a passion for reclamation tasks within the rotation. Given the Mets’ success in rehabilitating the careers of Luis Severino and Sean Manaea final winter, it could hardly be a shock if the membership discovered comparable success in doing so with Montgomery.
Longer Photographs
- Cubs: The White Sox aren’t the one Chicago workforce Montgomery may at the very least theoretically make sense for. The Cubs are recognized to be out there for an additional beginning pitcher, and their pursuit of lefty Jesús Luzardo earlier this winter point out a willingness on the membership’s half to roll the cube on a hurler coming off a down season like Montgomery. With that being stated, the membership reportedly turned down a commerce involving Montgomery and Cody Bellinger earlier this winter. Given the truth that the Cubs ended up buying and selling Bellinger for little greater than wage aid final month, it stands to motive that Jed Hoyer’s entrance workplace both has little curiosity in Montgomery’s companies or on the very least most well-liked to open up that payroll area for different pursuits.
- Orioles: Baltimore would’ve appeared like one of many higher on-paper suits for Montgomery’s companies only a week in the past, however they not too long ago inked right-hander Charlie Morton to a one-year deal for 2025. That received’t essentially take them out of the rotation market fully, but it surely appears as if Baltimore would solely add to its rotation so as to usher in a transparent improve over its inside choices. Given Montgomery’s down season, it’s exhausting to think about the membership feeling that method about him at this level. In spite of everything, fifth starter Dean Kremer posted a better ERA+ than Montgomery in two of the final three seasons.
- Rangers: Montgomery was a key piece within the Rangers’ 2023 World Sequence championship, and the membership seemingly had loads of curiosity in bringing the lefty again final winter. Very similar to Montgomery himself, the Rangers had a down 12 months in 2024 and missed the postseason. With Max Scherzer and Andrew Heaney now free brokers, there may probably be room for a reunion within the Texas rotation. With that being stated, the membership seems decided to stay below the primary luxurious tax threshold and has quite a lot of younger starters who they might choose to lean on in 2025 as an alternative, like Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker.
